Steps to Remedy Non-Starting Generator

[ITD]

Slickcraft's advice is good. Make sure there is a spark, make sure there is gas. Also make sure the gas is good. I do the smell test, it should smell like gasoline. If it smells like varnish then it is bad. If it is bad it needs to be drained, the tank cleaned, the fuel lines cleaned and the carb cleaned. None of this is hard to do, you pretty much need a couple of tools and a can or two of carb cleaner. I would replace the fuel lines instead of cleaning them. But if you are not comfortable then leave it someone else.

My generator may go over a year or two before being needed. So I don't store gas in it. After use I change the oil, put stabil in the gas, run it for a little while, then turn off the fuel supply until the engine stalls. Mine has a drain screw on the carb bowl so I drain what's left out of the carb. Then I empty the tank completely of gas, I put that gas in my car. I remove the spark plug, put some oil (less than an ounce), then pull the cord a few times with the plug out. I put the plug back in and store out of the weather. The next time I need it, I gas it up, a pull or two and I am good to go.